I was at the flyshop last evening and somehow we all got on the subject of tying vs. fishing, and which gave each of us a greater sense of satisfaction. I really had to ponder this question for a few minutes before I answered because I so thoroughly enjoy each activity, and each is a means towards the other.

I suppose if I had a gun to my head and had to choose, I would pick fishing because I can validate my tying on the water. Plus when fishing, I'm out in beautiful areas and enjoying the rewards of early mornings, late nights, and countless hours of scouting and effort.

But only if I had a gun to my head.

I've started this poll only to start some discussion on this subject and to help us think about how deeply these activities are ingrained in some of us.

And I haven't included a bail out option....if you vote, you have to pick either fishing or tying, regardless of how hard a decision it is.

So, if you could only either fish or tie, which would it be?

Personally, I couldn't picture my life without either. It was a tough choice for the poll.

Mark..Fishing.... I never tye in the season...but after the season the tying bug hits me.. It's a tough question... and for me it makes .."flyfishing" last all year that way... it is all part of the whole.... but nothing can be better than that "tug" you feel at the end of the line. So I will vote fishing...but....

Withhout question it is flyfishing. I love to tie and have been doing so since age 9 some 41 years ago; however, as satisfying as tying well made flies is, fishing is the reason I stated to tie and fishing is far more satisfying than tying for no other reason than it gets me out into God's creation to some rather beautiful places.

i don't know what it is but recently i've been getting bored while fishing
my greatest sattisfaction is on a hard day and sudnly figure it out and catch a lot of fish but other than that it's tying for me
esspecially when you create a new pattern

There are those who love to build [race] cars and those who prefer to drive [race] them.

Hang around an airport and see folks who prefer to work on airplanes rather than fly them. Speybum will verify this.

There certainly must be firearm aficionados that would rather create a beautiful shotgun or super-accurate rifle than to hunt or target shoot with it.

We read daily of business-crazed types that would rather spend their lives building fortunes than enjoy the fruits of their work by taking major hunks of time to enjoy the world and its infinite possibilities.

How many computer types prefer programming the machine to using ready-made applications and games?

DH- maybe another question fits here: How many prefer to build a rod to casting and fishing it?

Fly tying is a craft, and no more or less interesting than many other crafts that can be practiced sitting at a desk or bench (polishing precious stones, arranging stamp albums, developing and printing photos, etc.) But fishing is a true multi-media experience. It is logical, empirical, athletic, exploratory, sensory,traditional/radical, competitive/contemplative. It is sudden direct contact with a primordal creature that lives vividly in the now, whether or not it is struggling for its life. It spans all but the extreme ends of the ages of man, filling the minutes and decades.
Tiers watch; anglers do.

Fishing. I tie most of my flies the night before I go fishing. This is why I will never be a real good fly tyer. I tie my own flies because I know what I want to fish the next day and I don't want to visit the fly shop at 5 in the morning. They won't be open anyway and the owner really doesn't like it when I call at 5 in the morning.

I tie to catch fish. I like the look of a fly that won't foul and will provide the action I need to feel the tug. I enjoy tying during the winter but it is the past and future memories that the time helps to evoke and create that brings me to sit down.

Tying or fishing?
Fishing the ocean, or fishing the river?
Trout or stripers? Steelhead or salmon?
Islay or Highland?
Casting or tying?
Native or hatchery?
Camping out or hanging at the motel?
Bullshitting or tying?
Albie or bonito?
Fishing with the kids, or fishing with the pals?
ESPN or NESN?
Mountain or beach?
River or lake?
Amber or pilsner?
Fast action or full flexing?
Dry or wet?
Swing or free-drift?
Single handed or double handed?
Overhand or spey?
Upriver mend, or downriver mend?
Black or orange?
Clouser or deceiver?
Tube fly or salmon hook?
Synthetic drag or cork?
Vest or chest pack?
Left hand or right retrieve?
Breathable or vinyl?
Pontoon ot kickboat?
Felt or stud?
Wet wade or goretex?
Sinking line or floater?
Flourocarbon or mono?
Indicator or fish like a man?
Split shot or line control?
Straight eye or loop eye?
...

I think the essence of the question is to bring out all the stuff besides the actual fishing itself... point taken!

that is probably what i am going through right now not much action (bass fishing with regular tackle) and that is why i get bored plus trout season has been closed since sept 30 and i already have cabin fever

Without the fishing i wouldn't tie wthout the tying i would just buy them and go fishing.

But it does bring up the point about the many aspects of fly fishing. Which do you like better
casting or catching?
casting is a zen like thing and catching is the life is a circle thing
dry fly vs nymph
drys are very fun with a nice visual component nymphing w/o an indicator is again very zen like
big fish vs little fish with a big fight

These questions,answers and rewards are what makes this pastime so attractive.....

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It is better to feel too much rather than too little